Monarda plant named ‘MON0004BLI’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Monarda  plant named ‘MON0004BLI’, characterized by its broadly upright plant habit; dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; large inflorescences with light red purple-colored flowers; long flowering period; and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

Botanical designation: Monarda didyma.

Cultivar denomination: ‘MON0004BLI’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Monarda plant, botanically known as Monarda didyma, typically grown a container plant and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘MON0004BLI’.

The new Monarda plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Monarda plants with attractive flowers and tolerance to Powdery Mildew.

The new Monarda plant originated from an open-pollination during the summer of 2013 of an unnamed selection of Monarda didyma, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Monarda didyma, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Monarda plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated open-pollination grown in a controlled nursery environment in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands during the summer of 2014.

Asexual reproduction of the new Monarda plant by cuttings in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands, since June, 2016 has shown that the unique features of this new Monarda plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Monarda have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘MON0004BLI’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘MON0004BLI’ as a new and distinct Monarda plant:

-   -   1. Broadly upright plant habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Freely flowering habit.     -   4. Large inflorescences with light red purple-colored flowers.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Tolerant to Powdery Mildew.

Plants of the new Monarda differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in plant uniformity as plants of the new Monarda are more uniform than plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Monarda can be compared to plants of Monarda didyma ‘Fishes’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Monarda differ from plants of ‘Fishes’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Monarda are more freely flowering and have         larger flowers than plants of ‘Fishes’.     -   2. Plants of the new Monarda flower for a longer period of time         than plants of ‘Fishes’.     -   3. Flowers of plants of the new Monarda are not persistent         whereas flowers of plants of ‘Fishes’ are persistent.     -   4. Plants of the new Monarda are more tolerant to Powdery Mildew         than plants of ‘Fishes’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Monarda plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Monarda plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘MON0004BLI’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet is a close-up view of the upper surface of typical leaves of ‘MON0004BLI’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical inflorescence of ‘MON0004BLI’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the late spring in 21-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered structure in Zuidwolde, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Monarda production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 4° C. to 15° C. Plants were two years old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the detailed description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Monarda didyma ‘MON0004BLI’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Unnamed selection of Monarda             didyma, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Monarda             didyma, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—By cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About two             months at temperatures about 20° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; typically             creamy white in color, actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer type and formulation, substrate temperature and             physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; broadly             upright plant form; overall plant form, obovate; moderately             vigorous to vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 63.1 cm.         -   Plant width.—About 67.3 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Branching habit: Freely basal             branching habit with about six main stems, each main stem             with about ten lateral branches. Length: About 14.6 cm.             Diameter: About 3.5 mm. Internode length: About 5.3 cm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly upright. Texture and             luster: Moderately to densely pubescent; slightly glossy.             Color: Close to 144A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 13.3 cm.         -   Width.—About 8.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate, twisted.         -   Base.—Truncate to slightly cordate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Texture and luster, upper surface.—Moderately pubescent and             moderately rugose; slightly glossy.         -   Texture and luster, lower surface.—Densely pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately fragrant; pleasant, spicy.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between             144A and 144B. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to             144B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Darker than             between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 146D. Fully             expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 146C to 146D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 1.8 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by             4.5 mm. Color, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A;             proximally on the upper surface, tinged with close to 147A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower form, arrangement and flowering habit.—Single labiate             flowers arranged in large terminal globular spikes; flowers             face outwardly; freely flowering habit with about 160             flowers developing per inflorescence and about 2,500 flowers             developing per plant during the flowering season.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering habit, plants             flower from mid-July to mid-September in The Netherlands.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Flowers maintain good substance             for about five days on the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; pleasant, spicy.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Narrowly oblanceolate; curved. Color: Close to 68C             and 68D; distally, stripes, close to 61B; immature calyx,             close to 150D, 174B and 200B.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 6 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 8 cm.         -   Flower length (vertical).—About 2 cm.         -   Flower diameter (horizontal).—About 6 mm.         -   Flower depth (height).—About 4.1 cm.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Labiate; upper lip hooded; lower lip, a             single lobe; lips fused 60% of total length. Length, upper             and lower lips: About 3.9 cm. Width, upper lip: About 3 mm.             Width, lower lip: About 8 mm. Shape, upper lip: Lanceolate;             apex, acute. Shape, lower lip: Oblanceolate; apex, caudate.             Margin, upper and lower lips: Entire; lower petal, slightly             undulate and slightly twisted. Texture and luster, upper and             lower lips, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; matte. Texture             and luster, upper and lower lips, lower surface: Moderately             pubescent; matte. Color, upper lip: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Close to 68C. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 73B; color does not change with             development. Color, lower lip: When opening, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 68B. Fully opened, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 73B to 73C; color does not change with             development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: Five in a single whorl;             lower 90% fused into a tubular calyx. Length: About 9 mm.             Width: About 0.5 mm. Apex: Narrowly acute. Margin: Free             parts, finely serrate. Texture and luster, upper and lower             surfaces: Pubescent; dull. Color: When opening, upper and             lower surfaces: Proximally, close to 150D; distally, close             to 174B; free parts, close to 200B. Fully opened, upper and             lower surfaces: Proximally, close to 150D; distally, close             to 174B; free parts, close to 200B.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 1 mm. Diameter: About 0.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Color: Close to 150D.         -   Inflorescence bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 26 at             the base of inflorescence. Length: About 1.7 cm. Width:             About 1.3 cm. Shape: Ovate to narrowly ovate; apex, acute.             Margin: Entire. Texture, upper surface: Glabrous; velvety.             Texture, lower surface: Pubescent. Color: When opening and             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 186C; proximally,             close to 137D. When opening and fully opened, lower surface:             Close to N137A to N137C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Two.             Filament length: About 1.6 cm. Filament color: Close to             between 67D to 68C. Anther length: About 2 mm. Anther shape:             Narrowly elliptic. Anther color: Close to 67C. Pollen             amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to 11C. Pistils:             Quantity per flower: One. Pistil length: About 3.6 cm.             Stigma shape: Cleft, unequal. Stigma color: Close to 77C.             Style length: About 3.75 cm. Style color: Close to 72B;             towards the base, close to NN155C to NN155D. Ovary color:             Close to 150D.         -   Seed and fruit.—Seed and fruit production have not been             observed on plants of the new Monarda. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Monarda have been     observed to be tolerant to Powdery Mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum).     Plants of the new Monarda not been observed to be resistant to pests     and other pathogens common to Monarda plants. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Monarda have exhibited good     tolerance to rain, wind and high temperatures about 30° C. and to be     hardy to USDA Hardiness Zone 5. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Monarda plant named ‘MON0004BLI’ as illustrated and described. 